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Description:1931.
Image shows Mr Herbert Green posing for the camera in Cranberry Street. Cranberry Street was one of several streets running parallel to each other between Great Garden Street and York Road. They were mainly named after types of food like 'Wheat', 'Apple' and 'Bread' etc. In the background there is a shop advertising a 'short, sharp sale' due to the termination of the lease. It reads 'new seasons goods sold at great sacrifice'. The light above the door of the property on the right has painted lettering: 'ask for Jason'. One of the panes in the ground floor window is broken.

User Comments:

Name:

C Lovedale

Comment:

A poster in the shop window advertises "Whitsuntide Requirements", referring to the old custom of children having a new set of usually summer clothes at this time. Whitesuntide was based on the Christian Feast of Pentecost, which celebrated the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus. This took place fifty days after the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday and would normally fall towards the end of May. Whitsunday became a favourite time for baptisms, particularly of adults when new white robes would be worn, thus "White Sunday" became "Whitsunday" through common usage. Gradually the custom of providing children with a new set of clothes arose, many churches and chapels would have walks to witness their faith, followed by a tea or pic-nic with races and games for the young.
In poor families these were often the only new garments a child would have, usually wearing hand-me downs or second -hand clothes from jumble sales or dealers. Having proudly been attired in their clothes the children would visit friends, neighbours and relatives to display their finery, hopefully to be rewarded by a few pennies.
The clothes were sometimes purchased from shops which ran a club system, a small amount paid in through the year could be spent for Whitsuntide.
I remember going to C&A with my mother one year to be kitted out with a Royal Stewart tartan kilt, red blazer, white blouse and red beret. This was followed by a visit to a shoe shop to buy the customary summer sandals, red in this instance! A new vest, knickers and socks were also bought from the local drapers shop, the smell of all these new garments was magical, a starchy freshness which I loved.
Alas, in 1971 it was decreed that the last Monday in May would become known as "Spring Bank Holiday" and Whitsuntide has been lost except to those who still worship at the time of Pentecost.

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